My husband recently started a Keto Diet, again! Last time he did this, the summer of 2018, I was in Italy awaiting the birth of my 6th. grandchild; so no one was home to support my husband in his endeavor nor was anyone around to prepare Keto friendly meals and snacks. That’s probably why he did do so well on the diet.

Mind you this diet is not for everyone, in fact you should consult your doctor before trying a Keto Diet. I know for sure this diet is not for me as I have an autoimmune condition that affects my liver, and this diet according to my research is not recommended for folks that have liver and kidney conditions as well as a host of other medical issues. Again consult your doctor before going on a Keto Diet or any other diet.

But this article isn’t about the Keto Diet at all. It’s about a delicious chicken dish that I make for the family. As I’ve already mentioned my husband is on a Keto Diet, but I’m not and neither are my daughter and 2 grandsons who live with us. So really my problem was to find something we all could eat so that I don’t have to play short order cook and make different meals of the family.

This Creamy Butter Garlic Chicken is just the thing. It’s fatty and low carb enough to work in a Keto Diet, it has 8 net carbs for each 1/2 cup of sauce, and it’s yummy enough to serve the rest of the family. Best of all it’s super easy to make!

I serve it with riced cauliflower for my husband and mashed potatoes for the rest of us. Steamed veggies make for a balanced meal we all love it!

Chicken Milanese with Lemon Butter Sauce, wow! Sounds fancy doesn’t it? Sounds like something you’d order in a fancy Italian restaurant. It brings to mind the city of Milan, one of the world’s most fashionable city.

The name doesn’t lie, Chicken Milanese simply means Chicken made Milan style. It is one of the signature dishes of Milan; in Italian it’s called “Pollo alla Milanese”. Are you impressed yet? Traditionally it was made with veal, Cotoletta alla Milanese, but chicken has become a popular alternative.

Well let me tell you the first time I ever had Pollo alla Milanese was in a chic little restaurant in Cernobbio, a town on Lake Como about 40 kilometers away from Milan. And yes I ordered it because I thought with such a grand name it must be something different. Imagine my surprise when the waiter set a fried chicken cutlet in front of me and it didn’t even have any gravy!

Yup that’s what Pollo alla Milanese is, a battered and fried chicken cutlet. If we were talking Southern cooking it would be called chicken fried chicken and chicken fried steak if veal were used instead of chicken.

But because it’s an Italian style cutlet it’s not smothered in gravy and served with mashed potatoes and corn, like the perfect Southern comfort food. Instead it’s usually served with a bed of crisp fresh greens like an arugula salad. Instead of gravy they usually squeeze a slice of lemon over the cutlet or top it with a light lemony butter sauce. As far as I can determine that’s the only difference between chicken fried chicken and Chicken Milanese.

Well whatever you call it it’s still delicious! A bit fussy to make (you have to cut, pound, dredge, dip, bread, and fry) but so worth the time and trouble. I make it at home and serve it both ways, Milanese and fried cutlet with gravy, depending on what I’m hungry for. Either way my family loves them!

Place chicken breasts between 2 sheets of plastic wrap - you will have to do this with 2-4 pieces at a time
Using a kitchen mallet pound breasts to 1/4" thickness
Pounding chicken breasts between plastic wrap keeps chicken juices from splattering all over the kitchen counters.
Set aside while you get the other ingredients ready.

Mix flour and garlic powder together and place in a shallow dish or bowl
Beat eggs in another shallow dish or bowl
Mix Panko with grated cheese and Italian seasoning in another shallow dish or bowl
Line bowls up in order (flour, egg, Panko) next to the stove. This makes the frying process so much easier and neater.

place in a shallow dish or bowl
Beat eggs in another shallow dish or bowl
Mix Panko with grated cheese and Italian seasoning in another shallow dish or bowl
Line bowls up in order (flour, egg, Panko) next to the stove. This makes the frying process so much easier and neater.
Heat oil in a large frying pan. Oil will be hot enough if it sizzles when you drop a piece of panko in it.
Dredge a slice of chicken in flour making sure both sides are completely covered
Dip both sides of chicken in egg
Dip both sides of chicken in Panko mixture

Place in frying pan and fry both sides about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown
Drain on paper towel
Serve with Roasted Potatoes and Lemon Butter Sauce

Sauce

Melt 1 Tbl Butter in saucepan
Saute garlic in butter until it starts to brown
Stir in cream, stock, and wine until well combined
Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat
Whisk in remaining butter 1 tbs at a time
Stir in seasoning and lemon juice
Season with salt and pepper to taste
Serve over Chicken Milanese

One of my favorite dishes is Chicken Marsala. I’ve tried many different recipes in my quest for the perfect one; tweaking each one until it was just right.

Here is the recipe I use and my family loves it. The sauce in this version is thicker and creamier than other versions due to the heavy cream and corn starch. If you want a thinner sauce please read the notes at the end to see what ingredients can be omitted or substituted.

This recipe is very easy to make and should be served soon after cooking. Left overs can be refrigerated, in fact it tastes even better the next day!

I serve Chicken Marsala with garlic mashed potatoes or my cousin’s “poor man’s pasta” the recipe for that is at the bottom of this post.

* For thinner sauce OMIT heavy cream and corn starch in step 4. Add salt and set aside. Cook chicken as directed. In step 9 BEFORE you sprinkle with parsley stir in 2 more tbls. butter, stir until butter melts. Sprinkle with parsley.

Toss chicken tenders in flour; shake off excess; fry in olive oil/butter until cooked thru and is golden brown.

Pour Marsala sauce over chicken. Add cherry tomatoes. Simmer until tomatoes are soft, but not mushy.

Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Poor Man's Pasta

Cook pasta as directed on box.

Drain pasta.

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat.

Add cooked pasta. Toss in butter until pasta is covered.

Add parmesan cheese. Toss pasta until cheese is evenly distributed.

Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

For thinner sauce OMIT heavy cream and corn starch in step 4. Add salt and set aside. Cook chicken as directed. In step 9 BEFORE you sprinkle with parsley stir in 2 more tbls. butter, stir until butter melts. Sprinkle with parsley.